PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN THE SYSTEM OF POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION: STRATEGIC GUIDELINES

Abstract

Postgraduate medical education is a key component of ensuring the quality, safety, and sustainability of healthcare systems, particularly in the context of rapid scientific progress, digital transformation, and increasing demands for medical services. Within the framework of ongoing healthcare reform and European integration, Ukraine faces the urgent need to modernize not only the content of postgraduate medical education but also the public administration mechanisms that regulate this field. This article analyzes the current state of postgraduate medical education in Ukraine and identifies major structural and managerial challenges, including fragmented governance, insufficient coordination between institutions, low levels of digitalization, unequal access to educational resources across regions, and weak links between continuing professional development, licensing, and professional advancement. These problems reduce the effectiveness of lifelong learning for physicians and limit the capacity of the healthcare system to adapt to new clinical standards and technologies. The study provides a comparative analysis of international continuing professional development models implemented in the European Union, the United States, and Canada, as well as the policy framework proposed by the World Health Organization. These models are examined in terms of regulatory arrangements, accreditation mechanisms, digital tools, and motivational instruments that support continuous professional development. Based on this analysis, the article formulates strategic guidelines for improving public administration in the field of postgraduate medical education in Ukraine. These include the development of a unified national continuing professional development strategy, the creation of an integrated digital continuing professional development system, clarification of institutional responsibilities, expansion of the managerial autonomy of educational institutions, strengthening motivational mechanisms for physicians, and ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities. The implementation of these measures can contribute to the creation of a coherent, transparent, and adaptive system of postgraduate medical education that supports lifelong learning, enhances professional competence, and strengthens the overall performance of Ukraine’s healthcare system.